Open Response to K.B. Napier of christiandoctrine.net
I wrote the following email to K.B. Napier at www.christiandoctrine.net on January 12, 2007 in response to an article he had written stating that all Charismatics believe a false gospel (an open letter actually, retrieved from http://www.christiandoctrine.net/doctrine/articles/article_00145_another_jesus_ another_spirit_another_gospel_web.htm). After receiving no response for some time, I sent a follow-up asking if he even intended on defending his views. Apparently he is either too cowardly or inept to respond and prefers to make sweeping accusations without backing them up; for if there is one thing a false accuser cannot stand, it is being confronted by whom he accuses with the truth. So for your reading pleasure, my response to him:
Dear Mr. Napier,
You make the assertion in your article 'Another Jesus, Another Spirit, Another
Gospel,' that Charismatics teach a false gospel, I quote: "I do not care if you
are a pastor or theologian - if you are charismatic, then you preach a false
Gospel."
Seeing as you utter such spiteful words to believers in Christ, I feel it is
time that a non-denominational Charismatic openly take you to task for your
accusations. If we indeed "concentrate on generalities and not on scripture"
and will not give you scriptural evidence for your charges, as you claim, then
refuting my case should be a fairly easy task for you. As far as your four
points of what you insist the true gospel includes,
"1. God elected and predestined who would be saved. He did this before He made
the world."
I agree.
"2. Because He elected who would be saved, and He cannot change His mind, it
means that those who would be saved cannot choose to be saved."
and
"3. We cannot reject or choose salvation."
We indeed do not ordain ourselves, but we are elect according to the
foreknowledge of God (1 Peter 1:2); foreknowledge and the ability to receive or
reject God's word are not mutually exclusive.
"4. Jesus died for those He had elected, not for everyone (as John 3:16 properly
tells us)."
John 3:16 says nothing of the sort, nor does any other passage in scripture.
While I do not believe that either a Monergistic/Synergistic view of salvationis a false gospel in and of itself, if you still insist that one must be the
whole truth and the other a damnable heresy, then I have news for you: The
Synergist view of salvation is substantially more in line with the teachings of
scripture than is the Monergist. One of the corollaries of the Monergist view
is eternal security or perseverance of the saints, yet this doctrine falls
completely flat in light of the many clear warnings given in scripture against
apostasy. Consider,
"Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell,
severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in [His] goodness:
otherwise thou also shalt be cut off." Romans 11:22
Yes, it means salvation by being grafted into Christ; a simple look at the
context will determine that much.
"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth,
there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of
judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that
despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much
sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under
foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he
was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of
grace?" Hebrews 10:26-29
Only one who has been redeemed is sanctified by the blood of Christ, this
passage flies squarely in the proverbial face of the Perseverance of the Saints
doctrine.
"And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God
shall take away his part out of the [tree] of life, and out of the holy city,
and [from] the things which are written in this book." Revelation 22:19
What purpose do warnings such as this serve, since believing them constitutes
believing a false gospel (at least according to you)?
The clear teachings and warnings of scripture have already rendered your case null and void Mr. Napier, and no tenable defence against them is possible. I
therefore openly call upon you to renounce your unfounded accusations against
Charismatic believers in Christ.
Sincerely,
J.C. Thibodaux
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